Meat slicing machine



Nov. 17, 1931.

c. J. HOBART E T AL MEAT SLICING MACHINE Filed may '1, 1930 a Sheets-Sheet 1 wfi w m Wm; w 6 0 EJ M /E he q 7 2% a Nov. 17, 1931'. c. J. HOBART ET AL MEAT SLICING MACHINE Filed May 1, 1930 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 fnvenfan's CkarZea (I/[GZLZT'f emye 22.1 565 g9 p a Nov. 17, 1931. 'c. J. HOB-ART ET AL MEAT SLICI NG MACHINE Filed May 1. 1930 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 yzz-tarkgya.

Nov. 17, 1931. c. J. HoBAl a-r ETAL 1,832,302

MEAT SLICING MACHINE Filed May 1, 1930 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 I Invenzarfi 6%czrZes Jflbfiacr emgga Zifzkik Nov. 17, 1931. c. J. HOBART E TAL MEAT SLICING MACHINE Filed May 1, 19:50 6 Sheetg-Sheet 6 n u m I FI ILI fnvevzzfans fiarZep Jjfo 5a?" @607" 6 6 v 72,573 V fl-tOTZg S Patented Nov. 17, 1931 warren stares emar CHARLES J. HOBART, OF CHICAGO, AND GEORGE R. FISK, OF HARVEY, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNORS T LINK-BELT COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS Application filed May '1,

This invention relates to ameat cutting machine. While it is not limited to a machine of any particular size or dimension, its me chanical features are for many purposes most important when embodied in a large machine and in a machine which is designed to do heavy, continuous cutting of large bodies of material. In its present form the invention is particularly adapted for use as a meat slicer and it is used to cut and slice large pieces of meat and is of sufficient strength to cut through the meat and bone. It may be used, for example, in slicing pork chops and when so used an entire side of pork is put into the machine and out into slices, the machine cutting meat and bone and operating continuously to cut up the entire piece.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved knife construction in which the blade is preferably laid out on. a logarithmic spiral "in which the radii increase-uni,- formly as the cutting, edge of the blade increases in length. Another object of the invention is to provide an improved counter.- weighted blade holding construction. A fur ther object is to provide a blade holdingconstruction in whicha flywheel, counter weight and knife are combined.

Other objects will appear from time to time in the specification and claims.

Our invention is illustrated more or less diagrammatically in theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a side elevation of the machine as a whole; l

Figure 2 is an end view with parts broken away and parts in section;

Figure 3 is an end view showing a portion of the transmission with parts broken away and with the transmission housing removed.-

It shows the opposite end from that shown in Figure 2; a l f Figure 4 is a detailed longitudinal cross sectional view on an enlarged scale taken 1. at line 44 of Figure 3.;

' Figure 6 is a side elevation of the mate- MEAT srrornc MACHINE 1930. Serial No. 448,858.

Figure 7 is a cross section of the material 7 engaging assembly taken on line 7 7 of Figure 2,011 an enlarged scale;

' Figure .8 is a side elevation of the knife counter-weight assembly; I

Figure. 9 is a transverse'cross section taken at line 9 9 of Figure 8;

Figure 10 is a plan view of the blade removed from its associated parts;

Figure 11 is a view generally similar to Figure :3, showing a modifiedfform of the,

invention Figure 12 is a detailedcross section taken Where the machine is one of a large size,

handling large pieces ofmaterial for cutting, the foundation may be of concrete or other permanent material and the machine may be fixedto it permanently, being connected to the foundation by members which are embedded in the concrete.v A-longitudinal framework is provided. "It maybe formed of angle members A A and vertically disposed end members A A which may beof any suitable construction. A. work holding shelf or plate A is supported in the framework. The main surface of the member A is inclined inwardly toward the axis of the knife and'isprovided with a relatively inclined portion A) which is inclinedupward- 1y with respect to it. The left hand frame member A is cut away so as to'provide an opening'A-fl A is arpiece'secured by screw A and having an edge A.

Supported in suitable bearings in each of the members A ,A is a feed screw B, atone end of which, namely, the right hand end, as

shown in Figure 1. a pinionB is fixed. Positioned about the feed screw B is a collar B which is provided with an interiorly threaded portion, not shown. This portion may bemoved into and out of contact with the threads of the feed screw B and it is controlled by a lever or handle 13*. A spring :8 normally tends to hold thishandle in an upright position. The details of the engaging devices are not shown as they form no particular part of the present invention. It is sufficient that means he provided for engaging and disengaging the collar B with the threads of the feed screw B. Extending downwardly from the collar B is a member B to which is attached a carrier plate B. B is a reinforcing member extending between the plate 13 and the member 13 and reinforcing them. The plate B may be thinned or reduced adjacent its forward edge as at B and may be roughened or provided with upwardly extending engaging points B.

Mounted adjacent the outer end of the carrier plate B and extending upwardly awavfrom the face of that plate is a curved member C. Iris provided n one edge with a notched arcuate section C A short stud C is mounted rigidly in theplate C and journaled on it is a pinion C Fixed to the pinion C is a handle C A pawl C is provided in the handle and it may engage with one of the'notchesCR Anysuitable means may be provided for moving the disc into and out of engagement with the notches. This means need not be described as it forms no particular part of the present invention. It is suflicient that the pawl may be moved into the disengaged position so that the handle may be rotated to a position such I as that shown in Figure 7.

Journaled at one end in the plate C and at the other end in any suitable bearing.

supported in fixed relation with the carrier plate B is a shaft D. At its outer end the shaft carries a pinion D which meshes with the pinion C Fixed on the shaft D are a number of hooks or teeth D?. In the form shown these hooks are formed of wire and extend through the shaft and are bent partially about it. When the shaft is rotated in one direction the hooks are moved towardthe pins B into a position such as that shown in Figures 2 and 6. When the shaft is rotatedin the opposite direction the hooks are moved away from the pins 13 into a position such as that shown in Figure 7. These teeth or hooks may thus be moved toward or away from the pins so that they co-operate with them to engagefan article which is to be cut.

port the carrier plate assembly and the material which it engages.

F is a knife shaft supported in suitable hearin s in the frame members A A Fixed I. on the shaft is a combined counterweight and flywheel. This member may be made in any suitable fashion but in the form shown its several parts are made integrally with each other. It includes a generally circular disc-shaped member F which, through a portion of its circumference, has a tapered edge F Extending outwardly from the face of the disc F is an annular flange or flywheel portion F F is a hub member." F 45 are spoke members arranged radially and vextending from the hub F to the annular flange As shown in Figure 8 these spokes are arranged unevenly about the circumference of the flywheel. This arrangement and the tapered edge serve to counterbalance. the unbalance of the knife blade. The shaft F is preferably provided with a tapered end F and at its extreme end is provided with a reduced threaded portion F. A nut F on the threaded end serves to secure the counterweight and flywheel assembly in position on the shaft. Lead or other material may be added in the pockets formed between the spokes F to produce the proper weight and,

shown. the cutting edge of the knife extends through approximately 180 and this cutting edge is laid out as a logarithmic spiral, it being a characteristic of this particular spiral knife that a given increase in radii such as XY, as shown in Figure 10, requires the movementof a corresponding linear length of curved edge XZ and for a given knife the ratio of increase of radii XY to linear movement of edge XZ is a constant at any portion of the edge and for any increase in radii.

At its opposite end the shaft F has fixed u on it an eccentric H. The eccentric is slotted as at HP. The shaft is reduced in size and given a rectangular cross section which corresponds in width to the slot H H is a nut which is threaded upon the end of the shaft F. By means of this construction the position of the eccentric and its throw may be adiusted. H is an eccentric ring positioned about the eccentric H and having connecting rod H.

I is a stud positioned in the end frame member A It is provided with a reduced portion I and has an outwardly extending annular flange I which serves to position it with respect to its support in the frame member A Positioned about the stud I andbetween the portions I, I is a ring I. Extending upwardly from this ring are perforated ears I I, within which the connecting rod H is positioned and supported npon'a pin 1 This pin has a reduced portion 1 upon which is positioned a pawl 1. 1 1

are supports for a spring 1 whichis ef;

fective to hold the pawl I in contact with the teeth of a ratchet J which is mounted for movement upon the reducedportion I of the. stud I. The support I is fixed on thepawl and the support I is fixed on one of theears' gear J by means of a pin J This pin may be of such a size or of such material as to break readily if abnormal resistances to the 7 movement of gear J develop. A nut J ings of the feed screw shaft. he bearing serves to hold the parts imposition andto prevent their separation. The gear J meshes with the pinion B.

' In Figure 5 there is shown one of the bearhousing 'K is positioned in a perforation through the frame member A. This may be done by welding, as shown, or otherwise;-

A bushing K is positioned withinthe bearing housing and supports the shaft B. Fixed on the shaft is a collar K A-djustably sup ported on the bearing housing by means of bolts K is a collar K which is positioned about the shaft :andmaybe dr'awn into ad justed position with relation to the bearing 35' housing. K is a friction element lying-between 'the'members K and K.

L is a motor support. It may be carried on the foundation A as indicated, or it might be carried upon the frame of the machine. 40'

L is a motor positioned on the support and by means of a suitable driving connection not here shown, as it forms no particular part of the present invention, the motor drives the shaft F. The connection between the motor and the shaft is enclosed in the removable housing L M is aremovable housing about the ends of the shaft F and thefeed screw shaft B. It encloses the transmission connections between the two shafts.

N is a guard positioned generally opposite the opening A in the left hand frame member A It is provided with an open bottom and serves merely to keep the hands of the operator out of contact with the plate. Material being cut extends through the open bottom of the guard N.

O is the lower part of a housing which encloses a part of the blade counterweight and flywheel assembly. It is provided with a lateral extension 0 which corresponds gen orally in size to the flywheel. O is a movable part of the housing and it is preferably pivoted to the portion 0 by a hinge or pivot connection 0*.

Itiwill be realized that while we have here in shown .anddescribeda practical operative device,neverthelessmany changes might be made in the'size, shape, number and'disposition of parts 1 without departing. from the spirit :of our invention and we wish, there'-.

fora-that our showing be taken as in a sense dragranmiatic. In Figures 11 and .12 we have shown amodified formin which the stud I, the pinion E the gearJ and other parts are omitted. Instead of the constructi on shown in Figure a ratchet P- is mounted directly on the feed screwshaft B and retained in position thereon by means of a nut or other suitable member P vIn this.

construction the ring I is positioned directly onithe' feed screw B. 'Itand its associated parts are formed exactly like the ring I and the associated parts shown in Figures 3 and 4.. The connecting rod H is positioned on the pin I in the'same'manner as these parts are shown connected in Figure 3. The

ratchet P as shown in Figure'll is provided with a large number of teeth. and while the pawl I is shown as adapted-to engage-only a single tooth, we contemplate forming the pawl for some purposes and in someinstallai tions so'thatit engages a plurality of teeth at a time, Adjustment of the amount of throw of the-,type of our device [shown in Figures 11 and 12 may be accomplishedby changingithe, ratchet as in Figure 11 and substltutzngtherefor one havinga greater or a;

less nuinber of teeth than-that shown,

Adjustment may also be provided by adQ justing the "position of the connecting rod 11* so as'to vary its amount of throw. In the to accommodate the material which is to becut. The piece of material to be cut is then put in position, generally on the surface A the teeth D on the shaft- .D are raised in the 30Sltl031 shownin Figure 7., the material is engaged upon the pins or teeth H, the shaft D is then rotated into the position shown in Figure 6 and the pins or teeth are forced into.

lie

engagement withthe material so that they,

in cooperation withthe pins B", grip; the

material The material .carryingassembly is now set in motion by moving the handle B so that the'interiorly threaded portion of the collar B engages the. feed screw B which is;, rotated, as described below; from the driven shaftyFa This shaft is ordinarily constantly in motion when tbemachineis in use. a

material which is to be cut into the path of the knife. The parts are. so proportioned that the feed screw shaft is given one turning motion for each rotation of the blade and thus one slice is cut at each rotation of the blade.

The amount of rotation which will be given to the feed screw and consequently the amount of forward movement of the carriage with the material which it engages are ad- 0 justable so that the thickness of the slices maybe adjusted. This is accomplished by changing the relative sizes of the gear J 2 and the pinion B thus permitting any given angular movement of collar I ratchet J and. gear 5 J 2 to cause different angular motions of pinion B and shaft B. Fine teeth might be used and where used it might be convenient to providethe ratchet with parts adapted to engage several teeth at a time instead of the O ratchet shown to engage only a'single tooth as indicated in Figures 3 and 11. A further means of adjusting the thickness of slices is by changing the number of teeth in the ratchet J and by adjusting the eccentric H to 5 causea movement of pawl Ito correspond to the teeth ofthe ratchet J. A further purpose for adjusting the throw of eccentric H is to reduce the-movement of pawl I" to the minimum necessary to engage the teeth of the 40. ratchet I the magnitude of this movement tion by the nut H By this out or in move-.

being influenced by the speed of operation of the device as well as by the mechanical condition of the various parts. By this means the noise and shock caused by operation at high speeds may be reduced to a minimum.

The member H is slotted and engages the squared end of the shaft F in its slot, and may be moved out or in with respect to that shaft and may be held in this adjusted posiment the length of the throw of the eccentric is varied and consequently the amount of movement of the paWl I with each reciproca tion of the consecting rod is varied.

We claim i 1. In combination in a cutting mechanism,

a driven shaft, 2. flywheel fixed thereon, an

unbalanced cutting member and counterweighting elements, including a disc and spokes and serving to counterbalance the unbalanced weight of the cutting member.

2. In combination in a cutting mechanism, a driven shaft, a flywheel fixed thereon, an unbalanced cutting member and counterweighting elements formed integrally with said flywheel, including a disc and spokes and serving to counterbalance the unbalanced weight of the cutting member.

3. In combination in a cutting mechanism, a driven shaft, a flywheel fixed thereon, an unbalanced cutting member and counterweighting elements formed integrally with said flywheel, including a disc and spokes and serving to counterbalance the unbalanced weight of the cutting member, and an added weight positioned upon said counterweight.

4. In a cutting mechanism, a flywheel and counterbalance, including an annular flange, a'hub and a disc-like portion, the disc-like portion having throughout a part of its periphery a tapered edge, and a, number of spokes joining the annular flange with the hub,.anunbalanced cutting member, the arrangement and weightof the disc and spokes being such as to counterbalance the unbalanced weight of the cutting member.

5. In a cutting mechanism, a-unitary flywheel and counterbalance, including an annular flange, a hub and a disc-like portion, the disc-like portionhaving throughout a part of its periphery a tapered edge, and a number of spokes joining the annular flange with the hub, an unbalanced cutting member fastened to the disc, the arrangement and weight of thedisc and spokes being such as to counterbalance the unbalanced weight of the cutting member.

Signed at Chicago, county of Cook and State of Illinois,.this 27th day of March,

7 CHARLES J. HOBART.

GEORGE E. FISK. 

